Msgr. Guido Marini interviewed

I was alerted to the following by a friend. The present Papal Master of Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini gave an interview to the Sunday magazine of Niedziela in Poland. I don’t know if this was published somewhere else previously, but this is where I saw it.

With my emphases and comments.

Wlodzimierz Redzioch: – What does the collaboration between Benedict XVI and his Master of Ceremonies look like? Does the Pope decide about everything? [A question I have wondered about for a long time.]

Msgr. Guido Marini: – At first, I would like to stress that the celebrations the Holy Father presides over are to be the points of reference for the whole Church. The Pope is the highest priest, [after the Lord] the one who offers the sacrifice of the Church, the one who shows the liturgical teaching through celebrations – the point of reference for all. [I wonder what the Polish (or Italian) says. Is there is difference between “point of reference” and “model to be imitated”?] Considering this explanation it is easier to understand what the style of collaboration between the Papal Master of Ceremonies and the Holy Father should be. One should act in the way to make the papal liturgies the expressions of his authentic liturgical orientation. Therefore, the Papal Master of Ceremonies must be a humble and faithful servant of the liturgy of the Church. I have understood my work in the Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations in this way since the very beginning.

– We all can see the changes introduced to the liturgical celebrations by Benedict XVI. How can we synthesize these changes?

– I think that these changes can be synthesized in the following way: first of all, these are changes made in accordance with the logic of development of continuity with the past. So we do not deal with breaking with the past and juxtaposing with the former pontificates. Secondly, the introduced changes serve to evoke the true spirit of liturgy like the Second Vatican Council wanted, ‘The “subject” of the liturgy’s intrinsic beauty is Christ himself, risen and glorified in the Holy Spirit, who includes the Church in his work.’

– Celebrations directed towards the cross, Holy Communion received directly by mouth and while keeling, longer moments of silence and meditation – these are the most visible liturgical changes introduced by Benedict XVI. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the theological and historical meanings of these changes and what is worse, they can see them as ‘return to the past.’ Can you briefly explain the meanings of these changes?

– To tell you the truth our office has received many testimonies of the faithful who have favourably received the changes introduced by the Pope because they see them as the authentic renewal of the liturgy. As for the significance of some changes I will say a few synthetic reflections. Celebrating towards the cross stresses the correct direction of liturgical prayer, i.e. towards God; during prayers the faithful are not to look at themselves but should direct their eyes towards the Saviour. Giving hosts to people kneeling aims to giving value to the aspect of adoration both as the fundamental element of celebration and the necessary attitude while facing the mystery of God’s real presence in the Eucharist. During the liturgical celebration prayer assumes various forms: words, songs, music, gestures and silence. Furthermore, moments of silence let us participate truly in the act of worship, and what’s more, from the inside evoke every other form of prayer.

– The Pope attaches importance to the liturgical vestments. Is it a matter of pure aestheticism?

– In order to understand better the Pope’s ideas concerning the meaning of the beauty as an important element of liturgical celebrations I would like to quote the apostolic exhortation ‘Sacramentum caritatis, ’This relationship between creed and worship is evidenced in a particular way by the rich theological and liturgical category of beauty. Like the rest of Christian Revelation, the liturgy is inherently linked to beauty: it is veritatis splendor. […] This is no mere aestheticism, but the concrete way in which the truth of God’s love in Christ encounters us, attracts us and delights us, enabling us to emerge from ourselves and drawing us towards our true vocation, which is love. The truest beauty is the love of God, who definitively revealed himself to us in the paschal mystery. […] The beauty of the liturgy is part of this mystery; it is a sublime expression of God’s glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on earth. Beauty, then, is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself and his revelation.’

– Benedict XVI has changed his pastoral staff – currently he is using the cross-shaped staff. Why?

– I would like to remind you that till the pontificate of Pope Paul VI popes did not use crosiers at all; on special occasions they carried a ferula (cross-shaped staff). Pope Montini, Paul VI, introduced a cross-shaped crosier. And so did Benedict XVI till the Pentecost Sunday of 2008. Since then he has been using ferula because he thinks that it is more suitable for the papal liturgy.

[NB] – Why is it so important that the Church preserves using Latin in the liturgy?

– Although the Second Vatican Council introduced national languages it recommended [required] using Latin in the liturgy. I think it is for two reasons that we should not give up Latin. Above all, we have a great liturgical legacy of Latin: from the Gregorian chant to polyphony as well as ‘testi venerandi’ (sacred texts) that Christians have used for ages. Besides, Latin allows us to show catholicity and universality of the Church. We can experience this universality in a unique way in St Peter’s Basilica and during other international gatherings when men and women from all continents, nationalities, languages, sing and pray in the same language. Who will not feel at home when being at church abroad can join his/her brothers in the faith at least in some parts by using Latin? [That presupposes use in parishes, not just in international gatherings. I am sick of that international gatherings blather, frankly. Why must they beat around the bush? How are people to “feel at home” in international gatherings using Latin if they have never had Latin in their parishes (as Sacrosanctum Concilium mandated? Similarly, if the Holy Father has Latin in his Masses, and the Holy Father’s Masses are a “point of reference” for the rest of the world… well… ergo…. Why is this so hard? JUST.USE.LATIN.]

– Do you agree that the faith of priest is expressed in the liturgy in a special way? [Sigh… this is a question for the Papal MC?]

– I have no doubts about it. [What was he going to say? On the other hand, given what I have seen in some places… never mind.] Since the liturgy is the celebration of Christ’s mystery here and now the priest is called to express his faith in a twofold way. Firstly, he should celebrate with eyes of the one that looks beyond the visible reality to ‘touch’ what is invisible, i.e. God’s presence and work. [More easily facilitated by celebrating Mass ad orientem, no?] It is ‘ars celebrandi’ (art of celebration) that lets the faithful check whether the liturgy is only a performance, spectacle for the priest or whether it is a vivid and attractive relation with Christ’s mystery. Secondly, after the celebration the priest is renewed and ready to follow what he has experienced, i.e. make his life a celebration of Christ’s mystery. [Again the ad intra and ad extra pairing, this time within Mass and outside Mass.]

32 Responses to Msgr. Guido Marini interviewed

How are people to “feel at home” in international gatherings using Latin if they have never had Latin in their parishes (as Sacrosanctum Concilium mandated?)

There’s the rub, of course. How are we to get Latin included as a normal part of every parish’s CCD program? It’s precisely in those brightly-colored classrooms with tiny chairs that the battle for the restoration of Catholic identity will be won or lost.

I’d say there is an important difference between “model to be imitated” and “point of reference”, at least in the technical fields.

In the first, your goal must be to mirror what the Pope does. Any variation is a non-conformance of the standard and should be corrected.

In the latter, the Pope’s liturgies are an example of what liturgy is meant to be — variation is possible but if your liturgy bears no resemblance to the “point of reference” (e.g. your liturgical dancers are bumping into your clowns) then it’s likely that you are in non-conformance and must bring your liturgy in line with the “point of reference”.

To be more concrete, Eastern Catholic Liturgies and the Ambrosian Rite conform to the Pope’s litugies if it is a “point of reference” but not if it is a “model to be imitated”.

To be honest, Romeontherange, you don’t have to teach parishoners latin. They don’t have to follow classes. The only thing that’s needed is that latin is being used at mass, and that they have a missalette with the translation. They don’t have to be able to have a conversation in latin, they need to hear the words and recognize them. That’s all that’s needed (not to say that more isn’t a plus, of course, but historically only a tiny portion of the faithful had formal training in latin, and that has never been seen as a big hurdle.)

@Phil_NL
Conversational ability is really a very high-level skill. What I’m suggesting is rather that Latin ought to have the place in CCD programs which Greek does in Greek Orthodox parishes and Hebrew in the “Hebrew school” attached to a typical synagogue. Actual practical experience, even at a very basic level, is essential for helping people internalize a language and make it theirs. This facilitates true comprehension of what they hear in church and (even more importantly) ensures the kind of emotional resonance implicit in the term “worship.”

How is placing a Crucifix on the altar between priest and people preferable to ad orientem? Isn’t the Benedictine arrangement – setting aside any irrelevant arguments about it being an improvement upon the versus populum innovation – a break with tradition?

I would love hear the Holy Father’s thoughts on this. [And they are available. Check out the PODCAzT page for a couple old audio projects addressing this very issue.]

@RomeontheRange:
I still think you’d be overdoing it, massively. Again, there’s nothing against catholics learning latin – heaven forbid I’d suggest otherwise – but I’m against setting this as a sort of standard.

Many, if not most parishes will not have the resources or expertise to do this, nor will many (would be) catholics be happy to hear they are sort-of-expected to learn latin, even a bit of it. I also fail to see what you would mean with ‘true comprehension’ – latin as used in Mass is so far removed from most modern languages that there always remain several layers of depth and meaning that are noticable only to those with a profound knowledge of latin, history and theology. That’s in fact part of the appeal, it emphasises mystery. As for ’emotional resonance’, I think that classes/lectures would be counterproductive, especially given the alternative, which is just use the latin during Mass, offer a translation, and aiding those that want to delve deeper into latin, if possible. Mass would hopefully resonate more than a lecture. That way you have it for those who want, without bothering those who are happy just to read the translation.

It’s hard enough, apparently, to teach a bit of latin to priests. Let’s focus on that, IMHO, they really need instruction in latin.

This is so interesting. I think that yes taking part in international gatherings would presuppose exposure to Latin. But, you know, it probably wouldn’t require a huge amount. Have heard of one parish (which has been sort of aggressively and rudely disrupted and dismantled — pray for those people) where the confirmation class, all public school kids, happily did learn to sing prayers in Latin. It’s the decision and the leadership that is important and the follow through is probably not hard at all. Little ones memorize the Our Father without knowing what all of the words mean, older ones can memorize it in Latin fairly easily. While people memorize less and less in schools it is still a part of life. It would not be necessary to take an entire course in Latin to participate in the Mass and of course it is possible as the composer’s piece pointed out yesterday to learn as you go, which is always and always has been a hallmark of the Christian journey.
Where I am it seems that the contributions of J.C. Murray at Second Vatican have been totally exaggerated and the distortion serves as the going assumptions in catechesis, liturgy, the entire approach to evangelization, the call to holiness, the life of faith, prayer, I think it’s fair to say that this distortion colors everything and has become a reverse-dogma. I am certainly not a canon lawyer or a theologian so I would have to leave it to better minds to process out. But it is observable, this “teaching” and it goes something like this. We never want to give the impression that we are encouraging people in the life of faith, because, if we do, as, priests (first and foremost), pastoral ministers, catechists, youth ministers, etc etc etc, then we run the risk of making the choice to, live out the faith by, say, attending Mass, or, considering the virtue of chastity, or (substitute just about anything here, prolife, encouraging vocations, etc etc), not a freely chosen choice in an act of free will and conscience but one that is less valuable or prized or even “coerced” (?). Therefore, according to this teaching, do nothing to make the sacraments attractive and beautiful. Strip things down to the bare minimum. Do not go out of your way to remember the name of a parishioner or develop a genuine friendship with them. Do not even encourage weekly Mass attendance as this says something “negative” about the others who do not come every week. In fact, deride those who attend when they attend as being Pharisitical in so many ways. Never encourage one virtue or another, as this would seem to require that and interfere with the freedom of choice. Just give a journal or daybook account of your whereabouts and people will that way somehow extrapolate your leadership from there. Kinda strange, huh? But those are the operating assumptions. Or you could call it the justification. Or excuse…So you see by this approach participation in the life of the sacraments and the Church is minimized altogether and it seems that they should be allowed to sort of “fail” of their own devices…if people stop coming, so what, at least their choice is totally free…That is held as a higher value and priority than attempting to live it out, even in struggle, or attempting to support people in their attempts to live it out. Bespeaks of a hatred, a self-loathing, of the Church itself, and you wonder, why do you not just leave then? And it answers the question of the sort of leadership, as well as the choices and emphasis in strange liturgy, the lack of interest in prayer, and so much weirdness. And if the Church is thereby run into the ground then so be it for in this calculation it is not worth saving. Call me a meanie but I challenge the powers that be and better minds to look into it. Is it not the case in many places?

Does the trend toward the dumbing down of liturgy, homily, connection also not seem to coddle a certain laziness as well? It just seems easier to do this or that thing and if it’s perennially innovative it keeps people interested without having to put nose to the grindstone and focus and work, day after day…

I’m not sure I see the point to emphasizing teaching and learning Latin for everyone.

On the one hand: I see that the children attending TLM catch on rapidly, and clearly are at comfortable with Latin liturgy by time for their first communion.

On the other hand, I entered the Church as a young adult, with no previous exposure to Latin. But this did not prevent the Latin liturgy making such a deep impression that it was the reason for my conversion. Indeed, the die was cast after one or two Masses, which obviously I did not understand in Latin. It was the ritual rather than the language of the Mass which reached me.

Since then, I have studied a fair amount of Latin, recite all the Liturgy of the Hours daily in Latin, and thus spend several hours a day reading Latin. But I cannot really say that my present familiarity with liturgical and scriptural Latin has in itself had a profound effect on my participation at Mass. The Latin required for this participation is so minimal that one picks it up by osmosis and without systematic study.

Actually, I think the emphasis on didactic liturgy and hence on understanding every word as proclaimed in liturgy is one of the mistakes responsible for the liturgical problems we see throughout the Church. Language is really only a part—and perhaps not the most important part—of ceremony and ritual. Those who concentrate only on the verbal may miss the transcendent dimension of the Mass.

In any event, I myself find it necessary to escape the tyranny of the audible word that turns people at Mass into couch potatoes either watching liturgy in the same superficial manner they watch TV, or simply ignoring it with 30-yard stares.

Which is one reason I take a Latin-English missal (or at least a prayer book with Latin-English Order of Mass) to both OF and EF Masses. Whichever language is being proclaimed aloud, I usually follow in the other. For instance, at a vernacular OF Mass, I usually follow the Eucharistic prayer in Latin, whereas at an EF Mass I follow the silent Roman Canon in English. As the priest reads the Epistle and Gospel in Latin at the altar, I usually follow them on the English side in my hand missal. When he repeats them in English from the pulpit, I follow them on the Latin side. Whatever works?

BTW… I didn’t say that all members of the Latin Church had to learn Latin (though that would be fine with me) or that parishioners had to learn Latin (though that would be fine with me).

The Second Vatican Council said that Latin should be retained and that pastors of souls had to make sure that people could both speak and sing the parts of Mass that pertain to them in both Latin and their mother tongue.

RomeontheRange – I disagree with your statement: “It’s precisely in those brightly-colored classrooms with tiny chairs that the battle for the restoration of Catholic identity will be won or lost.” Certainly I am all for teaching Latin to the kidlets. But the battle for Catholic identity was won at Calvary. The question is, how many casualties will there be before the end, and how large will the “winning” group be? Teaching Latin to the kids can be a huge weapon to this end, and keep many of them from becoming spiritual casualties.

This may be an interview published originally in Inside the Vatican, June-July 2008 [http://www.insidethevatican.com/back-issues/2008/issue-jun-jul-08.htm#G1302187329750]. I can’t locate my copy to compare the two. I’m presuming that ‘Vladimiro’ is the Italian version of ‘Wlodzimierz’. Mr Wlodzimierz is a staff writer at Inside the Vatican.

Quod scripsi, scripsi.
Language is an inseparable part of national, group, and religious identity. The Greek Orthodox and the Jews know this and have used language to bolster their internal cohesion with an effectiveness that history itself demonstrates quite thoroughly.

Thanks Fr. Z. Your podcasts are treasure. I need to make more time for them.

I cannot help but hear a disconnect between the importance Cd. Ratzinger places upon ad orientem in “Feast of Faith” and elsewhere, and the Benedictine arrangement. He tells us plainly that priest and people “facing the same way” is of “considerable importance.” That the cosmic dimension of the liturgy is “best expressed” through this posture, and that this is a strong expression of the degree to which priest and people are “united.”

Yet… as Holy Father he has chosen not to offer Holy Mass in this way. This troubles me.

I suspect that his motives are expressed in his description of the Benedictine arrangement as “a way forward.” This begs the question, “To where is it a way forward?” Presumably the answer is forward to a return to the venerable posture that he has been encouraging for decades on end; ad orientem!

So… I’m still left to wonder, why insert yet another innovation in the process? Why not just return to the posture that best expresses the nature of the liturgy?

A leftward-leaning friend of mine emailed this interview to me yesterday with the introduction, “I figured someone like you would enjoy this…”

I did, but I found myself dissatisfied with some of Marini’s answers, to be honest. Take the first question as an example. The interviewer asks,

“What does the collaboration between Benedict XVI and his Master of Ceremonies look like? Does the Pope decide about everything?”

An interesting question. The response, however, is so lofty as to fail to reveal much of anything about what their collaboration “looks like”. I like what he says, but not in response to that question. Were I the interviewer, I would have politely listened to Marini’s response, and then pressed him for the details that he didn’t offer:

“Okay, that’s nice, Monsignor, but could you tell us about the typical conversation or planning session that happens between you and the Pope before you plan a ceremony? Does he tell you, for example, what vestments he wants to wear or does he just give you a general idea of what he has in mind before allowing you to flesh-out the details? Or do you, perhaops, delegate that task to the sacristans? Do you (and/or the sacristans) have to get the Pope’s OK once you make selections? The reason I ask, Monsignor, is that the recent restoration of traditional Roman solemnity to the papal liturgy (which includes alot of traditionally-styled vesture, the type of which hasn’t been worn by any pope in decades) has generated alot of buzz (both positive and negative) as I’m sure you’re aware, and it would be interesting to know how much of a direct hand the Pope has in this as opposed to how much of the decisions are delegated to yourself or to your adjutants.”

I also would have asked him for some insight as to how it came about that the Pope made such a drastic departure from the sort of look and presentation of the papacy that characterized the early days of his reign. He began his pontificate presenting himself in vestments so outlandish and avant-garde in design as to make one quickly nostalgic for the days of John Paul II, but then, quite suddenly, he did a complete about-face, abandoning his initial look, entirely, in favor of a highly traditional pre-Vatican II era look.

Away went the too-short, weird-looking miters, the tie-dyed ample chasubles, the ‘corporate Rome’ lace-insert albs and rochets, the gigantic over-the-shoulder style pallium, JP’s silver crozier, and the white armchairs; along came the jeweled miters of his early twentieth century predecessors, the Mantum, the elaborately-embroidered fiddleback chasubles, albs and rochets finished in full lace, the redesigned pallium, the ferula of Pius IX, the red velvet and gilt thrones. Was he merely being surreptitious in the beginning, or was the sudden change of style brought on by an equally sudden change of heart?

“In order to understand better the Pope’s ideas concerning the meaning of the beauty…”

I’d like to understand, because, clearly, his idea of what defines beauty changed drastically at some point. Some say it was merely a change in Marinis that cause the change to the pope’s liturgy and liturgical vesture. Was it really just a matter of a change in MCs, though? That seems unlikely. Did the pope, perhaps, suddenly realize that his external presentation was inharmonious with his hopes for liturgical reform?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled by the transformation that occurred but I would have asked Marini to elaborate on just how it came about. I’ve never read anything but idle speculation on that question. Then I would have asked him for an ETA on the Fanon. ;^)

I would have asked him, too, regarding the notion that the papal liturgy is the point of reference for the rest of the Church, whether he had thoughts as to how that idea might be more…fully…communicated to the Pope’s brother bishops and to their clergy. It might have been interesting to read Marini’s reaction had the interviewer bluntly pointed out that the Pope’s liturgical example is obviously not the point of reference for the vast majority of clergy.

To clarify my previous comment, let me say my concern is that—while emphasizing the need to make up for the loss of Latin in the last forty years—we not allow the prevalent ignorance of Latin to be a false barrier for participation in Latin liturgy now.

Whereas my former pastor (now a model bishop) argued famously that Latin and lima beans are both good for you whether you like them or not, I think both that Latin liturgy is good for you and that you can like it, whether or not know it (the Latin itself, that is).

@ Andrew “Can’t we just fabricate, say, a Californian rite? You know, the one with the smoking salad bowls … ”

The “smoking salad bowls” image is one that is hard to forget.
I thought of “woks” and stir fry vegetables,
flambe’ desserts,
and “hibachi grills” when I saw the video.
Liturgical novelties are painful to watch.
Perhaps many people will remember David Carradine in “Kung Fu,” picking up the red-hot brazier with his bare forearms as he graduates from the Shaolin temple.
That was also painful to watch.

I think it is important to preserve Latin and Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic in the NO mass (at least in hymns) since it links the present to the early church. The Catholic Church wasn’t started yesterday by Pastor Smoothtalker. It has a long history that the hymns and liturgy hint at.

It also links us across borders, since you can go into another country and still recognize parts of the mass.

Both these facts are a real joy. To me at least, Adeste Fideles and Kyrie Eleison are far nicer than their English counterparts.

When Joseph Ratzinger was just a cardinal, he could speak and write frankly. But popes these days have to hedge and be politic. I expect the Curia and episcopate won’t let him celebrate ad orientem regularly. Sad to say, Benedict is surrounded by many powerful men hostile to his vision.

Louie Verrecchio – I hope that the so-called “Benedictine arrangement” is being used by the Holy Father as an interim step to ease into ad-0rientem – sort of a cushion for people who would be shocked by a sudden change. I pray the he lives long enough to accomplish this. If not, I pray for a holy and able successor who will.

I echo Louie’s question/comment. If the Holy Father really wants us to return to ad orientem worship, then why doesn’t he celebrate every Mass that way, order it to be done that way in every Mass celebrated in Vatican City, and say he highly recommends it for
every priest?

ttucker:If the Holy Father really wants us to return to ad orientem worship, then why doesn’t he celebrate every Mass that way?

If every Pope imposed his own will on the whole Church we would have wildly different styles of worship with each successive papacy. Fortunately, Popes are very wise and patient and willing to forgo their personal preferences in order to maintain stability. The Church has made a drastic move in the late sixties and we are still experiencing the consequences. It’s like a ship that made a drastic turn in a storm. You don’t want to oversteer it now or you might just sink it. It is better to hold your course and wait for the storm to subside. In the meantime there is a lot of work to be done so that once we are in the clear we will know what to do. For my part, I am teaching myself Latin. Other know about vestments and calendars and customs etc. Patience and perseverance will get us there. I think. Unless the end is near.

Benedetta would stand Correct, Yes the Holy Father has Celebrated the N.O. (ad orientem) in the Sistine Chapel on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when He Himself administers the sacrament of Baptism.

Seems like many of the young Priests have no problem celebrating the N.O. ad orientem….if they are allowed to by the pastor.

I find it somewhat humorous that the same people who claim that communion on the tongue is a “return to the past”, used a “return to the *way* past” to justify communion in the hand. :)

Search Fr. Z’s Blog

Search for:

BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING? Please, come here first!

Enter Amazon through my search box and I will get a small percentage of what you spend. (Pssst - Can't see the search box? Turn off your "ad-blocker" for this site!)Amazon.com WidgetsPS: I added Amazon Search Boxes for the UK and for Canada at the bottom of the blog page. Copy and paste titles I mention into those boxes and - BAZINGA! - results appear as if by magic.
Kindle? HERE

“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z

Some words of wisdom…

The more vigorously the primacy was displayed, the more the question came up about the extent and and limits of [papal] authority, which of course, as such, had never been considered. After the Second Vatican Council, the impression arose that the pope really could do anything in liturgical matters, especially if he were acting on the mandate of an ecumenical council. Eventually, the idea of the givenness of the liturgy, the fact that one cannot do with it what one will, faded from the public consciousness of the West. In fact, the First Vatican Council had in no way defined the pope as an absolute monarch. On the contrary, it presented him as the guarantor of obedience to the revealed Word. The pope's authority is bound to the Tradition of faith. … The authority of the pope is not unlimited; it is at the service of Sacred Tradition.

CLICK and say your Daily Offering!

"We as Catholics have not properly combated (the culture) because we have not been taught our Catholic Faith, especially in the depth needed to address these grave evils of our time. This is a failure of catechesis both of children and young people that has been going on for fifty years. It is being addressed, but it needs much more radical attention... What has also contributed greatly to the situation is an exaltation of the virtue of tolerance which is falsely seen as the virtue which governs all other virtues. In other words, we should tolerate other people in their immoral actions to the extent that we seem also to accept the moral wrong. Tolerance is a virtue, but it is certainly not the principal virtue; the principal virtue is charity... Charity means speaking the truth. I have encountered it (not speaking the truth) many times myself as a priest and bishop. It is something we simply need to address. There is far too much silence — people do not want to talk about it because the topic is not 'politically correct.' But we cannot be silent any longer."

Help Monks in Wyoming (coffee) and Norcia (beer)!

出る杭は打たれ!

Without you, there is no blog.

There is a subscription form at the bottom of this page!

Aedificantium enim unusquisque gladio erat accinctus.

- Nehemiah 4:18

"Where priest and people together face the same way, what we have is a cosmic orientation and also in interpretation of the Eucharist in terms of resurrection and trinitarian theology. Hence it is also an interpretation in terms of parousia, a theology of hope, in which every Mass is an approach to the return of Christ."

"In those situations where homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty. ... If all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in keeping with their responsibility as politicians." CDF 2003

One of the most dangerous errors is that civilization is automatically bound to increase and spread. The lesson of history is the opposite; civilization is a rarity, attained with difficulty and easily lost. The normal state of humanity is barbarism, just as the normal surface of the planet is salt water. Land looms large in our imagination and civilization in history books, only because sea and savagery are to us less interesting.
— C. S. Lewis

Ham Radio Stuff

Fr. Z - W9FRZ - OFFQRV on: 00m 00000
Check Echolink WB0YLE-R - OFF

For contemplation…

"One of the few things in life you can be absolutely sure about is that, if Management tells you it doesn't like your Tone, you are getting something right."

"Latin is a precise, essential language. It will be abandoned, not because it is unsuitable for the new requirements of progress, but because the new men will not be suitable for it. When the age of demagogues and charlatans begins, a language like Latin will no longer be useful, and any oaf will be able to give a speech in public and talk in such a way that he will not be kicked off the stage. The secret to this will consist in the fact that, by making use of words that are general, elusive, and sound good, he will be able to speak for an hour without saying anything. With Latin, this is impossible."

- - Giovanni Guareschi

Support them with prayer and fasting.

Click for Car Magnets

Help the Sisters. They have a building project. Get great soap (gifts, etc.) while helping REAL nuns!

Some OBLIGATORY reading…

Leave Voice Mail for Fr. Z

Nota bene: I do not answer these numbers or this Skype address. You won't get me "live". I check for messages regularly.

WDTPRS

020 8133 4535

651-447-6265

Let us pray…

Grant unto thy Church, we beseech
Thee, O merciful God, that She, being
gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may
be in no wise troubled by attack from her
foes.
O God, who by sin art offended and by
penance pacified, mercifully regard the
prayers of Thy people making supplication
unto Thee,and turn away the scourges of
Thine anger which we deserve for our sins.
Almighty and Everlasting God, in
whose Hand are the power and the
government of every realm: look down upon
and help the Christian people that the heathen
nations who trust in the fierceness of their
own might may be crushed by the power of
thine Arm. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world
without end. R. Amen.

Check out the Cardinal Newman Society feed!

Yes, Fr. Z is taking ads…

A great hymnal…

Mystic Monk Coffee also has TEA!

Because it matters what children read…

I carry one of these super-strong rosaries in my spare mag pouch! The Swiss Guards have them too!

The Swiss Guard have these rosaries!For the story clickHERE and HERE (esp. 18:00)

Because you don’t know when you are going to need to move fast or get along without the supermarket…

My wish lists

Main Wishlist Kindle WishlistAudio WishlistHam Radio ListNEW

Food For Thought

“The legalization of the termination of pregnancy is none other than the authorization given to an adult, with the approval of an established law, to take the lives of children yet unborn and thus incapable of defending themselves. It is difficult to imagine a more unjust situation, and it is very difficult to speak of obsession in a matter such as this, where we are dealing with a fundamental imperative of every good conscience — the defense of the right to life of an innocent and defenseless human being.”

For your consideration…

"One of the most dangerous errors is that civilization is automatically bound to increase and spread. The lesson of history is the opposite; civilization is a rarity, attained with difficulty and easily lost. The normal state of humanity is barbarism, just as the normal surface of the planet is salt water. Land looms large in our imagination and civilization in history books, only because sea and savagery are to us less interesting."

- C.S. Lewis

More food for thought:

“I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history.”

Francis Card. George

Fr. Z’s stuff is everywhere

Please follow me on Twitter!

Help support Fr. Z’s Gospel of Life work at no cost to you. Do you need a Real Estate Agent? Calling these people is the FIRST thing you should do!

They find you a pro-life agent in your area who commits to giving a portion of the fee to a pro-life group!

"It will never be known what acts of cowardice have been committed for fear of not looking sufficiently progressive."

Charles Pierre PéguyNotre Patrie, 1905

"If I ought to write the truth, I am of the mind that I ought to flee all meetings of bishops, because I have never seen any happy or satisfactory outcome to any council, nor one that has deterred evils more than it has occasioned their acceptance and growth."

St. Gregory Nazianzus
ep. 131 - AD 382

“We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women. If we do not reach that time, then our children and grandchildren will reach it, and they will sell your sons as slaves at the slave market.”

To set up a recurring, monthly donation via PAYPAL (even a small one) go to the bottom of this blog and look for the drop down menu! If you prefer, I also have a clearXchange account. Do you want yet another alternative to PayPal? I have set up an account with
CONTINUE TO GIVE
Get a link to donate via CONTINUE TO GIVE using your smart phone.
SEND MESSAGE:
4827563
TO:
715-803-4772
They take a larger percent taste, but they are an alternative.

I remember benefactors in my prayers and periodically say Mass for your intention.

This catechism helped to bring Fr. Z into the Catholic Church!

Be a “Zed-Head”!

Fathers, you don’t know who might show up! It could be a “big fish” of one sort or other…

And... GO TO CONFESSION!

“And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: What would things have been like if every Security operative, when he went out at night to make an arrest, had been uncertain whether he would return alive and had to say good-bye to his family? Or if, during periods of mass arrests, as for example in Leningrad, when they arrested a quarter of the entire city, people had not simply sat there in their lairs, paling with terror at every bang of the downstairs door and at every step on the staircase, but had understood they had nothing left to lose and had boldly set up in the downstairs hall an ambush of half a dozen people with axes, hammers, pokers, or whatever else was at hand?... The Organs would very quickly have suffered a shortage of officers and transport and, notwithstanding all of Stalin's thirst, the cursed machine would have ground to a halt! If...if...We didn't love freedom enough. And even more – we had no awareness of the real situation.... We purely and simply deserved everything that happened afterward.”

What people say…

"Rev. John Zuhlsdorf, a traditionalist blogger who has never shied from picking fights with priests, bishops or cardinals when liturgical abuses are concerned."

- Kractivism

"Father John Zuhlsdorf is a crank"
"Father Zuhlsdorf drives me crazy"
"the hate-filled Father John Zuhlsford" [sic]
"Father John Zuhlsdorf, the right wing priest who has a penchant for referring to NCR as the 'fishwrap'"

- Michael Sean Winters

"Fr Z is a true phenomenon of the information age: a power blogger and a priest."

- Anna Arco

“Given that Rorate Coeli and Shea are mad at Fr. Z, I think it proves Fr. Z knows what he is doing and he is right.”

- Comment

"Let me be clear. Fr. Z is a shock jock, mostly. His readership is vast and touchy. They like to be provoked and react with speed and fury."

- Sam Rocha

"Father Z’s Blog is a bright star on a cloudy night."

- Comment

"A cross between Kung Fu Panda and Wolverine."

- Anonymous

Fr. Z is officially a hybrid of Gandalf and Obi-Wan XD

- Comment

Rev. John Zuhlsdorf, a scrappy blogger popular with the Catholic right.

Support Military Chaplains!

Click to donate

Food For Thought

“Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites. . . . Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.”

Canadian Amazon Search Box

More stuff…

Archives

ENTRY CALENDAR

Do you use my blog often? Is it helpful to you?

If so, please consider subscribing to send a monthly donation. That way I have steady income I can plan on, and you wind up regularly on my list of benefactors for whom I pray and for whom I periodically say Holy Mass.

Some options

Admin Stuff

The opinions expressed on this blog do not necessarily reflect the positions of any of the Catholic Church's entities with which I am involved. They are my own. Opinions expressed by commentators in the comments belong to the commentators.